Next Gen - An Electric Midget? Seriously!

Electric power in passenger cars has become the rage in the 21st century. With its many advantages, would there be a possible application to racing? In the past, there have been some attempts, but the battery weight made it impractical. But in late 2011, an effort was undertaken between USAC and Columbus Electric Motorsports of Columbus, Ohio to create an all electric Midget.

Kevin Miller, President/CEO of USAC, explained that the concept is applicable not only in the future but right now, today. "Imagine a series of electric Midgets, there would be a lot of interest with a new demographic of racers, fans, and sponsors," he said. Even in its infancy, the test program has shown many advantages, several of which are not very obvious. Imagine a Midget race car that can back up, doesn't need a push-off, and has maximum torque from a dead stop. But wait, those three benefits are just beginning. You don't have to deal with dangerous methanol or its fire hazard and there is no toxic exhaust. The lack of a clutch means fewer moving parts to break and the engine doesn't wear out.

Speaking of the engine, it can be used in different classes (meaning horsepower levels) by simply changing peak power with the engine management software. Did we mention that the car is pavement and dirt compatible, is ideal for indoor racing, and since it produces little to no noise you'll never have an issue with surrounding communities? Well, all of that is 100-percent accurate.
Miller continued, "Everybody that heard about the project indicated that high motor cost would make it prohibitive." But that isn't the case, the motor cost lands in the $12,000-$15,000 range and has an expected life of greater than 25 years. "And with all the cars dialed in at exactly the same power setting, driver skills and car setup become the keys to victory. During this season, we plan to allow these cars to run with the Focus or even the National Midgets."

USAC gave Columbus Electric Motorsports just a month to come up with the design and build a prototype. To that end, USAC provided the company with a Ford Focus Midget chassis to install the new electric powertrain system. The innovative company came through with flying colors, working with the Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research and tested the car at the Transportation Research Center Proving Grounds in central Ohio. Throw out all that you know about the internal combustion engine. Everything is different in this unique powertrain, but it will be comparable with Midget car power levels. Miller also added that the concept could possibly be used in both smaller (Quarter Midgets) and larger (Sprint Cars) race vehicles in the future. Initially, the electric car weighed in at 1,069 pounds, which is a little heavier than the typical Midget's 900 pounds. Project Leader Eric Schacht added, "We think that there are places where weight can be reduced to make it weight compatible to a convential Midget."

There is no liquid fuel here, therefore no methanol fire danger. But there are hot wires which must be respected. The battery DC power cables are orange in color. Each of the car's six lithium battery modules is rated at 82.5 volts. The batteries are carried in three aluminum boxes, two of which are located under the tail and one under the hood. Each box weighs about 80 pounds which adds up to a sizable 240 pounds. A manual plug at the rear of the car allows the batteries to be disabled by trackside officials or during service. One of the unique capabilities of this system is the ability to regenerate power while on the track. That occurs when the driver lets off the throttle and slows down; engine drag is converted back into power. The team hopes that during competition this regenerated power will extend the battery range.

Since this vehicle is powered by an electric motor, it's not surprising to learn that it has an electric power steering system powered by an additional battery under the driver's seat. The key to this system is the inverter under the hood that converts DC power from the batteries to AC power to drive the electric motor. But even though it's a pure-electric system, there are two fluids present. First, the lubricant for the motor itself is automatic transmission fluid. Then, there is a cooling loop for the inverter which uses antifreeze which passes through the front-mounted radiator where it is cooled. Being in airtight aluminum boxes, the batteries are shielded from crashes and the boxes dissipate any heat.

This is one of the first examples of an all electric circle track race car that we have seen. It will be very interesting to see how the car performs in actual competition. Could this electric Midget be a glimpse into motorsports of the future? It very possibly could be.